Arcuated table slide for expandable tables



Jan. 9, 1968 A.-G. HOFFERT ARCUATED TABLE SLIDE FOR EXPANDABLE TABLES --Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1966 INVENTOR.

2 Sheets Archie G. Hoffert BY c' d/ ATTORNEYS Jain. 9, 1968 A. G. HOFFERT 3,36

ARCUATED TABLE SLIDE FOR EXPANDABLE TABLES Fil-ed Septv 21, 1966 v 2 Sheets- Sheet 2- Archie G. Hoffert BY fl/mo ATTORNEYS INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,362,357 ARCUATED TABLE SLIDE FOR EXPANDABLE TABLES Archie G. Hotfert, Winston-Salem, N.C., assignor to .l. A.

Vance Company, Winston-Salem, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Sept. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 580,937 8 Claims. (Cl. 108-83) This invention relates to a table slide, and more specifically, to an arcuated table slide which joins the end portions of a standard expandable table and which is adapted to support insertable table leaves so as to prevent the middle of the table frombeing depressed below the ends thereof.

A long-standing problem in the furniture industry and, more specifically, in the manufacture of expandable tables is the sagging of the tables in the middle due to the extra weight placed on the table slides when the same are pulled apart to provide for a larger eating area. Where wide spans are contemplated, the ends of the table are at least one-eighth of an inch and sometimes as much as one-half of an inch higher than a point equidistant between the ends thus giving the table a concave appearance. The concavity or sag in the middle of the table increases as the distance between the supporting legs increases even though the table slide members are designed with a greater resistance to bending for this bowing effect is augmented by the inward pivoting motion of the table legs upon the placing of heavy objects on the table surface between the legs. Various reinforcing members have been tried without success to prevent sagging in the middle portions of the table.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a table slide which is adapted to receive a plurality of table leaves and when loaded to support the same in a continuous horizontal plane with respect to the plane as defined by the end portions of the table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table slide for an expandable table which is slightly convexly arcuated when extended and when not supporting heavy objects and which is substantially flat when supporting heavy objects.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an arcuated table slide with a pair of oppositely facing and oppositely extending elongated channel tracks which are rigidly secured to each other at an angle so that the point of intersection is above the outer ends of the track.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a table slide which is adapted to span increased distances without sagging.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent when the following description is read in conjunction with the appended drawings, specification and claims. A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the various elements which comprise the arcuated table slide;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an assembled table slide showing the same in an extended position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the extended table slide of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation view of the extended table slide of FIGURE 2 showing the same mounting the end portions of a table and two table leaves in an arcuated manner;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the table slide in a retracted position;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of the retracted table slide of FIGURE 5 showing the same mounting the end portions of a table with the table leaves removed; and

3,362,357 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 FIGURE 7 is a section view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

One embodiment of this invention contemplates providing a table slide with a pair of crossed channel tracks which are adapted to receive respectively a pair of traveler rails which are rigidly secured to the ends of a table so that the distance between the ends of the table may be increased or decreased -by sliding the traveler rails in the channel tracks. The channel tracks are rigidly secured together in a back-to-back relationship and at an angle with one another so that the boards comprising the table which reside on the channel tracks are tilted, when unloaded, slightly upwardly toward the center of the intersection between the channel tracks. This angle of tilt allows for a predetermined deflection under load. Thus, the table slide is adapted to span a greater distance without increasing the strength of the members comprising the same and without allowing deflection below the horizontal thereof. That is, track and rail members of conventional stamped, light gauge and relatively lightweight form may be employed.

Each of the elongated channel tracks has a wall surface which. includes laterally projecting and integral edges which in conjunction with the wall surface form a channel. The channel track members are integrally joined, by any suitable means, spot welding being an example, along the exposed portions of the wall surfaces at a given angle. The surfaces are connected so that the upwardly positioned ends of both channel tracks reside in a common horizontal plane and the lower positioned ends reside in a common horizontal plane which is beneath the horizontal plane in which the upwardly positioned ends reside. The channel tracks each slidably receive an elongated rail member which includes a side wall having spaced apart and parallel opposed flanges. The flanges, working in conjunction with the projecting edges of the channel track, allow the rail members to reciprocate within the channel track members. The elongated rail members are each provided with an elongated angle support member which is mounted thereon at a slight angle with respect to the plane in which the rail members reside. The angle member is bent at substantially degrees so as to provide vertical and horizontal surfaces. The horizontal surface is adapted to receive and be rigidly secured to a selected table end and, because of the mentioned angles of the channel track and rail members, to slant the same slightly upwardly in the direction of the center of the table. The table leaves are supported both by the table ends and the channel track members and are normally positioned slightly above the table ends so that when the table leaves receives a weight, the channel track members are deflected slightly downwardly thus moving the table leaves into a horizontal and continuous plane with the table ends.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the figures are illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In reference to FIGURE 1, channel tracks 10 and 11 are respectively provided with wall portions 12 and 13 which respectively include integrally joined projecting edges which provide convex track members 14 and 15 and convex track members 16 and 17. Wall members 12 and 13 are respectively provided with inwardly curved projections 0r appendages 18 and 19 and appendages 21 and 22, Track members 15 and 17 are provided with upwardly extending projections 23 and 24, respectively, the functions of which are hereinafter described.

Channel tracks ltl and 11 are respectively provided with traveler rails 39 and 31 which are slidably mounted in the same and are adapted to be extended as desired. Traveler rail 30 includes wall portion 33 and concave flanges 35 and 36 which are mounted in parallel and extend outwardly from a common surface of wall 33 and traveler rail 31 likewise includes wall portion 34 and concave flanges 38 and 39 which integrally extend outwardly in a parallel manner from a common surface of wall 34. Walls 33 and 34 also respectively include convex projections or appendages 41 and 42 which in combination with appendages 18 and 19 and appendages 21 and 22 limit the travel of traveler rails 30 and 31 in channel tracks and 11. Traveler rail 311 is slidably mounted within channel track 10 by means of slide bearings 52 and 53 and likewise traveler rail 31 is slidably mounted within channel track 11 by means of slide bearings 54 and 55. Each of the slide bearings is comprised of a bearing spacer bar 58 and ball bearings 59 and 60 which are rotatably mounted therein at the opposite ends thereof. For example, slide bearing 52 is adapted to reside between the oppositely curving surfaces of concave flange 36 and convex track 14 so that ball bearings 59 and 60 space the respective track and rails apart and provide a smooth surface along which traveler rails 30 and 31 are to slide. Traveler rails 30 and 31 are mounted in channel tracks 10 and 11, respectively, so that appendages 41 and 42 respectively reside between appendages 18 and 19 of channel track 10 and appendages 21 and 22 of channel track 11 so that the limits of travel of traveler rails 31) and 31 within channel tracks 10 and 11 are defined.

Traveler rails 30 and 31 are respectively provided with angle supports 70 and 71 which are rigidly mounted thereon and at an angle thereto. Angle supports 71) and 71 are each provided with a plurality of openings 72 which are adapted to receive screws or the like so that angle supports 70 and 71 may be mounted on and secured to end table top portions "/7 and 78, respectively. Table top portions 77 and 78 are supported from a floor surface by table legs 75 and 76.

In operation, it is contemplated that two table slides will be provided for each table and will be arranged in parallel and act in unison. The operation of this invention will be described with reference to only one table slide. A table (FIGURES 4 and 6) is comprised of table legs 75 and 76 which are fastened to and respectively support table ends 77 and 78. Angle supports 70 and 71 are respectively secured to table ends 77 and 78 so as to position said ends 77 and 78 upwardly so that if the parallel surfaces of table ends 77 and 78 were extended, they would intersect at a slight angle rather than at an angle of 180. The angle of projected intersection represented as the included angle Y may range from approximately 175 to 165 depending upon the length of the span between legs 75 and 76 and the strength of the members comprising the table slide. Traveler rails 30 and 31 are respectively joined to angle supports 70 and 71 at a proper angle, represented as the included angle X, so that their projected angle of intersection is greater than the projected angle Y of intersection of table ends 77 and 78. Channel tracks 10 and 11 which slidably receive traveler rails 30 and 31, respectively, are securely fixed to each other in a back-to-back relationship so that their angle of intersection is between 175 and 179 /z. When the table track is in an extended position as shown in FIGURE 4, it is adapted to receive table leaves 8t} and 81 which are supported by knobs 82 and 83, respectively, from table ends 77 and 78 and rest on projections 23 and 24 which extend upwardly from channel tracks 10 and 11.

It can be seen that the center portions of the span between legs 75 and 76 have a greater resistance to bending due to the extra materials comprising that portion than do the exposed portions of traveler rails 31] and 31 so that upon the lengthening of the table slide to its full width, the greater bending will take place in the exposed portions of traveler rails 31} and 31. Thus, upon the bending of the relative parts comprising the table slide downwardly due to the weight supported by the same, the inwardly projected ends of table ends 77 and 78 will move through a greater are than the adjacent ends of table leaves 80 and 81 so as to assume substantially a straight position as shown by the depressed outline of the composite table top as shown in FIGURE 4. The angle of inclination of angle supports '71 and 71 relative their respective traveler rails 30 and 31 is also adapted to allow the elevated ends of channel tracks 10 and 11 and projections 23 and 24 to pass respectively under table ends 77 and 78 when table leaves 80 and 81 have been removed and the composite table slide has been contracted into a position substantially as shown in FIGURE 6.

Many different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A composite expandable table slide adapted to join a pair of opposed table ends and to support at least one table leaf when in an extended position, said table slide comprising:

(a) a pair of elongated and integrally joined channel track members each including a wall surface with laterally projecting edges forming a channel therewith, said track members being joined such that the included angle of intersection is less than (b) an elongated rail member slidably mounted for travel in each of said channel track members, each said rail member having a side wall and integral opposed flanges extending therefrom, said flanges being slidably received by said edges of said channel track member to allow said rail member to reciprocate therein; and

(c) an elongated integral angle support member provided for each of said elongated rail members, each said support member having a horizontal side adapted to be secured to the underside of said table and a vertical side integrally joined to a selected surface of said rail member side wall so that the plane of said horizontal side slopes upwardly with respect to said rail member and in the direction of that portion of said rail member residing in said channel track member such that the included angle between the planes of said horizontal sides is less than the said included angle between said track members and is also less than 180.

2. The composite expandable table slide of claim 1 wherein each of said channel track members is provided with a pair of spaced apart projections extending from said wall surface and extending into said channel and each of said rail members is provided with a mating projection extending from said side wall and operatively positioned between said pair of said channel track projections to define the limit of travel of said rail members in said channel track members.

3. The composite expandable table slide of claim 2 wherein said laterally projecting edges of said channel track member are outwardly and convexly curved and said flanges of said rail member are inwardly and concavely curved so that cooperating flanges and edges from a substantially cylindrical opening, spherical bearing members. mounted in said opening and being operative to space said cooperating flanges and edges apart and to support said rail members in said channel track members whereby said rail members reciprocate in said channel track members on said spherical bearing members.

4. The composite expandable table slide of claim 3 wherein each of said channel track members is provided with a projection extending upwardly from and integral with the upper edge thereof and being adapted to support a portion of said table leaf.

5. An expandable table comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed and substantially horizontally disposed table ends;

(b) a table leaf adapted to be locked between and to be partially supported by said table ends;

() vertically extending legs connected to and supporting said opposed table ends; and

(d) a pair of composite expandable table slides adapted to join said opposed table ends and to at least partially support said table leaf when in an extended position, each of said slides comprising:

(1) a pair of elongated and integrally joined channel track members each including a wall surface with laterally projecting edges forming a channel therewith, said track members being joined such that the included angle of intersection is less than 180;

(2) an elongated rail member slidably mounted for travel in each of said channel track members, each said rail member having a side wall and integral opposed flanges extending therefrom, said flanges being 'slidably received by said edges of said channel track member to allow said rail member to reciprocate therein; and

(3) an elongated integral tangle support member provided for each of said elongated rail members, each said support member having a horizontal side adapted to be secured to the underside of said table and a vertical side rigidly joined to a selected surface of said rail member side wall so that the plane of said horizontal side slopes upwardly with respect to said rail member and in the direction of that portion of said rail member residing in said channel track member such that the included angle between the planes of said horizontal sides is less than the included angle between said track members and is also less than 180.

6. The expandable table of claim 5 wherein each of said channel track members is provided with a pair of spaced apart projections extending from said wall surface and extending into said channel and each of said rail members is provided with a mating projection extending from said side wall and operatively positioned between said pair of said channel track projections to define the limit of travel of said rail members in said channel track members.

7. The expandable table of claim 6 wherein said laterally projecting edges of said channel track member are outwardly and convexly curved and said flanges of said rail member are inwardly and concavely curved so that cooperating flanges and edges form a substantially cylindrical opening, spherical bearing members mounted in said opening and being operative to space said cooperating flanges and edges apart and to support said rail members in said channel track members whereby said rail members reciprocate in said channel track members on said spherical bearing members.

8. The expandable table of claim 7 wherein each of said channel track members is provided with a projection extending upwardly from and integral with the upper edge thereof and being adapted to support a portion of said table leaf.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 978,730 12/1910 Gaut 308 3.6 3,042,468 7/1962 Rudow etal. 108-83 3,099,232 7/1963 Cooper 108-83 3,275,396 9/1966 Hillson etal. 3083.8 3,336,881 8/1967 Aiken 108-77 3,336,882 8/1967 Edelson 308 3.6

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.. 

1. A COMPOSITE EXPANDABLE TABLE SLIDE ADAPTED TO JOIN A PAIR OF OPPOSED TABLE ENDS AND TO SUPPORT AT LEAST ONE TABLE LEAF WHEN IN AN EXTENDED POSITION, SAID TABLE SLIDE COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF ELONGATED AND INTEGRALLY JOINED CHANNEL TRACK MEMBERS EACH INCLUDING A WALL SURFACE WITH LATERALLY PROJECTING EDGES FORMING A CHANNEL THEREWITH, SAID TRACK MEMBERS BEING JOINED SUCH THAT THE INCLUDED ANGLE OF INTERSECTION IS LESS THAN 180*; (B) AN ELONGATED RAIL MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED FOR TRAVEL IN EACH OF SAID CHANNEL TRACK MEMBERS, EACH SAID RAIL MEMBERS HAVING A SIDE WALL AND INTEGRAL OPPOSED FLANGES EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID FLANGES BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED BY SAID EDGES OF SAID CHANNEL TRACK MEMBER TO ALLOW SAID RAIL MEMBER TO RECIPROCATE THEREIN; AND (C) AN ELONGATED INTEGRAL ANGLE SUPPORT MEMBER PROVIDED FOR EACH OF SAID ELONGATED RAIL MEMBERS, EACH SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A HORIZONTAL SIDE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TABLE AND A VERTICAL SIDE INTEGRALLY JOINED TO A SELECTED SURFACE OF SAID RAIL MEMBER SIDE WALL SO THAT THE PLANE OF SAID HORIZONTAL SIDE SLOPES UPWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID RAIL MEMBER AND IN THE DIRECTION OF THAT PORTION OF SAID RAIL MEMBER RESIDING IN SAID CHANNEL TRACK MEMBERS SUCH THAT THE INCLUDED ANGLE BETWEEN THE PLANES OF SAID HORIZONTAL SIDES IS LESS THAN THE SAID INCLUDED ANGLE BETWEEN SAID TRACK MEMBERS AND IS ALSO LESS THAN 180*. 